Lubricator



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WASHINGION L. PARKER, OF CHIOAGO, ILLINO IS.

LUBRICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 279,592, dated June 19,1883,

Application file(l J anuary 29, 1883. (No 'model.)

ing at Ohicago, in the county of Cookand State of I11inois, haveinvented certain new and nseful Improvemcnts in Lubricators forSteam-Oy1indcrs, which are fully xplained in the annxedspecification anddrawings.

The purpose of my invention is to provide a lubricatorof the class knownas oil-drop sight-feed lubricatcrs, in which the feed of oil shall beeffected solely by virtue of the difference in the specificgravity ofoil and watepthat is, without'the aid of hydrostatic or steam pressure.A furthcr purpose is to pro vide a compact form of lubricator of theclass named, and one inwhich the passage of oil from its rescrvoir tothe steam pipe or cylinder shall be as short and direct as possible,thereby avoiding, or at least diminishing, the danger of clogging thepassage with impuri ties frOm the oil. A further purpose is to furnish alubricator with a visible feed, in which, without specialadditionalparts or devices for that purpose, the oil may be kept so hotthat it may be used in the most exposed positionsas on locomotives orother outdoor enginesin the most severe weathcr without permitting theoil to become too 001d to fiow free1y in drops. A further purpose is topre Vent the vibration and consequent breztking of the oil-drop, whichis due to thevarying pressure of steam upon the contents of the c up atthe different stages of the pistonstroke. A furthr pnrpose is to providemeans for cleaning out the-oil-nozzle by blowing stean1 through itwithout emptyingpr disturbing the contents of the oi1:fiesrvdir.Theseprposes are accomplished by the form of structure described herein,as follows: I place the condenser surrounding the upper end of avertical branch of steanrpipe which forms the stem of the lubricator,such pipepenetrating the. bottom of the condenser, and having itssteamdischarge openings (one or more) at any point or points within thecondenser, the lowest of them, if more than one, orthe sole opening, ifbut one, serving a1so as the oi1-edct and also as the water-overfiowopening. The oil-reservoir I place surrounding the steam-induct pipe orstem belowthe condenser, into which it communicates by two openings,throug}1 one 'of which the watcr of condensation passes down to theoil-reservoir, a suitable trap preventing the upward passage of the oilthrough this passage-way, and thereby compelling the oi1 to pass upthrongh the other passage-way,

which-is provided With a suitable nozzle protruding upward into thewater which 'fi11s the lower portion of the condensing-chamber, andde1ivcrs the oil in drops into the water, through which it then risesand fioats off from the surface through the overfiow-cpening in thesteam-induct pipe constituting the stem, and passes to the cylinder. The1ower portion of the condensingchztmber is made whofly ,or partIytransparent, being transparent at least at that part opposite the nozzle, so that the oiLdrop may be observable thr0ugh it and the feedregulated accordingly. This lower part of the condensing-chambcr may bediminished so as to consist only of two tubes or branches, constitutingpassage-ways from the upper part of the condensing-chamber to theoilrescrvoir below, one of the branches being the path of the water ofcondensation down from the steam-filled portion of the condensingchamberto the oilreservoir, and the other branch being the path of the oil-dropupward from the oilreservoir to the water-surface in thecondensing-chamber, from whence it fioWs off to the steam pipes andcylindcr. Only the Iatter-named passage need be transparent. Bothmodifications of structure are shown in the drawings.

Figure 1 is a view showing avertica1 section of a form of my lubricator,in which the lower part of the condensing-chamber is made continuons offull size, as first ab0ve described. Fig. 2 is an elevation of a form inwhich the lower-part of the condensing-chamber is di- 1ninished, as 1astabove described, to two branches, constituting the passage-ways,performing the fonction stated. In ordcr to show features ofconstruction, the front left-hand quarter of the lubricatOr in thisfigure is shown ont ont, 1eaVing a sectional view of the left handportion of the lubricator as cut by the plane in the same position asthat upon which the sectional view of Fig. 1 is made. Fig. 3 shows insectional view details of Construction of a Valve attachment employed ashereinaftcr described.

A' is the stem, constituting the steam-im against upward passage throughit.

duct, water-overflow, and oil-educt in one passage. It is controlled bythe Valve c, and has the steam-discharge openings Y and Y, the lower ofwhich serves also as water-overflow and oil-educt opening; or theoil-educt may be by a separate opening, either in the stem A, as shownby the dotted outline Y or elsewhere, and provided with a separatepassage back to the steam-pipe, as shown by the dotted outline Y; but ineither or any case it should be on the same leVel as the water-overfl0Wopening. The number of the steam-openings may be several, anddistributed along the stem A Within the condenser; but even one, thelower, Y, Will in most cases sffice.

B is the condenser, having the lower transparent part, B, Fig. 1, whichin Fig. 2 is divided and diminished to the two branches I) and I), ofwhich only I) need be transparent.

E and E are passages commnnicating between the condenser B and theoil-reservoir C. The former passage, E, is the oil-passage, and thelatter, E, is the water-passage. One, and preferably both, of thesepassages are controlled by valves D and D, respectively. If only one isso controlled,I prefer-that it should be the oilpassage E.

H is a nozzle, covering above, and, except as to .its own aperture,closing the oil-passage E.

K is a trap,covering below, except as to its ownaperture, closingthewater-passage E. It is preferably made in the form shown; but it maybe in any form such as to trap the oil Any mechanic familiar With thisclass of devices Will be 'able without further instructions to fiX upona suitable form.

I provide a suitable plug in either of the positions F or F for fillingthe oilreservoir; also, a drain-000k, L, for emptying. I prefer to havealso a plug, G, for filling the condenser with water at starting. Thisplug is preferably located, as shown, at a point directly above thenozzle H, so that it may also serve to admit a swab t0 clean the glassand the nozzle, so as to permit the unobstructed observation of theoil-drop in its upward passage from the nozzle to the water-surface.

M is a passage, termed a vent, leading the highest interior point of theoil-reservoir C into the condenser or steam-pipe, into which it opens ata point which must be higher than a column of oil would be sustained bythe balancing-weight of the column of waterflin the condensing-chamberB. It may be as high as desired, and in praetiee I prefer to have itconsiderably higher than the overfiow-opening Y of the steam pipe orstem A. This vent is preferably controlled by a valve, m, located at anyconvenient point. The oil-reservoir 0 is preferably made interiorlyconcave above, so that there shall be a point, X, higher than any otherpoint of its interior surface, at which the vent M may eommunicate. Thisvent I prefer to locate so that the greater part of its length shall beoutside of both the oil-reservoir and the condensing-chamber, as in Fig.2, where it is placed at a point ninety degrees from each of thebranches I) and 1); but it may be elsewhere, provided it forms acommunication from. the upperand preferably the very highestpart of theoil-reservoir to the upper steam-filled portion of the condenser or itsconnections, for the purpose hereinafter stated. In Fig. 1 it is shownas a separate passage in the stem A,'alongside of but not communicatingdirctly With the steam-passage. sition is rather a.matter of conveniencein construction than substantial importance as respects its function;but I have found that it is usually more effective for its purpose whenit 'is so placed that it is not overheated by the .contiguity of thesteam-pipe, and for this reason I prefer to place it as in Fig. 2.

The precise mechanical structure of this lubricator is not strictlymaterial to its purposes, except so far as it secures compactness; but Iprefer to make it substantiallyas shown, the parts being bound togetherabout the stem A by means of the threaded nuts N above and 0 below thecondenser and oil-reservoir, respectively, the stem A making steam-tightjunctiens through both condenser and reservoir. The transparent part ofthe condensing-chamber-B in Fig. 1 and I) and b in Fig. 2makesteam-tight junctions below With the top of the oil-reservoir, and abovewith the upper portion of the condenser, by means of stuffingboxes orother packed joints, in a manner familiar to' mechanics, and which needsno further explanation.

The operation of the above-described lubricator is as follows: Theoil-reservoir being filled with oi1 through the filling-i)lug F, and thecondensing-chamber being also filled With Water, preferably by pouringthrough the plug G, though it may be allowed to fi1l by condensation,the steam is admitted through the cock d, and the valvesD and D and mbeing opened, the water Will pass down through the passage E and thetrap K into the oil-reservoir, dis.- placing the oil therein, which W111pass up through the passage E and nozzle H into and through' to thesurface of the .water in the lower part of the condenser or its branchI), and thence Will float off through the opening Y into the steam pipeand cylinder. The flow of oil may be observed through the glass. portionof the condenser, and may be regulated as desired by either valve D orD, the other bcing left open. 4 i

The purpose served by the'vent-passage M is to permit any steam or oilvapor which may form in the oil-reservoir 0 t0 escape. The necessity forthis arises from the fact that if it remains in the oil-reservoir itforms an elastic cushion on the top of the oil therein, and thepulsation due to the stroke of the piston being communicated through thestem A to the condensing-chamber B, and thence to the oil-reservoir C,through the passage-ways E and E, and, acting in the oil-reservoiragainst Thepothe elastic oushion or vaportherein, causes the entirecontents of the reservoir to throb witlr' the stroke of the:piston,thereby sooi1 churning the oil and water therein together into a foam;or, if the pulsation is not sufficiently violent to produce that effeot,it at least causes such agitation as to interfere with the steady anduniform formation of the oil-drop on the tip of the nozzle, andsometimes causing it to break and pass up in fine specks, the quantityof which it is impossible to estimate, S defeating the purpose ofrcnderii1g the feed visi-- ble. When, however, the vent Mis employed,the oil-reservoir is kept substantially free from vpor or gas, and fullof a continuous body of inelastic liquid, which, being incompressible,

- remains steady under the varying pressure at' tendant npon thepiston-stroke; or, to state the effect differently, the steam-pressurebeing transmitted through the vent-passage M counterbalances the same;pressure tranSmitted through the passages E and E, and howeve'r thatpressure may vary and fluotuate it can produce no motion of the liquidbody in the oil-reservoir, because, being applied .at the same instantand with the same force at the two extremes in the direction of whichonly motion could otherwise take place, it is expended in a tendency tocompress a liquid substantially incompressible, and therefore producesno sensible result. A similar but not identical function of this ventmay be thus stated:- When this lubricator is acting under high pressureof steam, especially if it is connected at or near the engine-cylinder,so that the' pressure in it varies s1'1bstantially as in the cylinder,from boiler-pressure to atmospheric pressure, or nearly so, at thedifferent points of the piston-stroke, .even if no steam is actuallyformed in the oil-reservoir, yet, being at a temperature at which itwould vaporize if the interval of minimum pressure were sufficientlyprolonged, the liquid in the reservoir is constantly on the point ofvaporizng, and is thereby rendered practically elastic; and in theabsence of the vent M, or an equivalent device, the high tension of theliquid in the reservoir, reacting in the interval of low pressure in thecondenser, Will drive the oil by main force either out through thenozzle in an irregular and uncomputable quantity, or back through thetrap intothe condenser, in either case tending to defeat the purpose ofthe visible feed; but with the vent M there is afforded ample space forthis expansion and contraction to take place without materially varyingthe pressure on the nozzle or the trap, and the1 eby a steady action ofthe forcesviz., the differonce in the specific gravity of the oiland'the water.is permitted, and a correspondingly steady and regularfeed is the resul To blow through either of the passages E, E, or M,close both the others and open the drain-000k L. To drain theoil-reservoir only,

close the valves D and D and open the draincock L. To drain also thecondensing-champlug or an equivalent device, P. This passage beingopened, the entire condenser may be drained through it; It also servesthe more important purpose of blowing the nozzle olear of any impuritieswhich may have accumulated in it from the oil, or to allow any air orsteam bubbles whichmay lodge under it and cause vibration of theoil-drop to escape.

When the form of the lubricator is that shown in Fig. 2, I consider itdesirable to connect the two branches b and b by the passage Z, openinginto the branch 1) at its base, outside the nozzle H, and into thebranch 12 at its base, above the trap K. The purpose of this passage isto permit complete drainage of both branches through the passage P, andalso to sult from difference of temperature at difierent points betweenthe two branches and the main part of the condenser above, therebyrendering the two forms, Figs. 1 and 2, complote equivalents in allrespects. Manifestly, if the branch b be closed above the opening of thepassage Z, the entire interchange of water and oil Will take placethrough the branch I), the oil rising in drops through it, and the waterof condensation passing down through it and through the passage Z andthe trap K. This suggested form would manifestly be identical With theforni Fig. 1, the transparent portion B of the condenser bei-iig simplyreduced in size, so taking the form of the branch b.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In avisible feed-lubricator, the combina: tien of an oil-chamber, acondenser, and a tube which serves as the sole passage for the steam totheeondenser, and for the oil from the surfac of the water ofcondensationin the condenser to the parts to be-lubricated.

2. In a visible feed-lubricator, the method offeeding oil to the partsto be lubricated, which consists in passing it, solely by reason of itsinferior specific gravity, from the oilreservoir to the surface ofthewater in the condenser, and thence carrying it' by and with ioo thesurplus water of condensation intoand through the steam-induct pipe tothe parts to be lubricated.

3. In a visible oil-drop-feed lubrioator, a condensingchamber whichaffords water for displacement and feed of oil, of which thecondensing-surface is higher than the steam-induct connection, and ofwhich the lower part, in which Water of condensation is accumulated, iswholly or partly transparent, and through the water in which the oilpasses from the oil-reservoir to the steam-pipe.

4:. In a visible oil-drop-feed lubricator, the visible feed tube orchamber, communicating below and downward with the top of theoilreservoir, and forming a part of or communL cating abovedirectly Withthe condensing-- chamber, which affords water for the displacement andfeed of oil, and of which the condensing-suriace is'higher than thesteam-induct connection.

5. A visible oil-drop-feed lubricator having a condenser whosecondensing-surface is higher than the steam-induct connection and anoileduct which opens at the surface of the water of condensation in thecondenser, whereloy the oil flows off with the surplus water orcondensation into and through the steam-pipe.

6. In a visible oil-drop-feed lubricator for the purpose of keeping theoil at a high temperature, the combination, with an oilreservoir and acondenser communicating With it, of a steam-pipe passing verticallythrough but not opening into the oil-chamber, and serving also as thesteam-induct into the condenser, substantially as set forth.

7. Avisible oil-drop-feed lubricator having a condensing-chambersuperimposed upon an oil-reservoir and eommunicating therewith by A twopassage-ways, one for the doxvnward passage of the water ofcondensation, guarded by a trap against the upward passage of the oil,and the other for the upward passage of the oil, either or both of saidpassage-ways being controlled by suitable valve or valves, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

8. In combination withthe transparent tube or chamber B or b and thenozzle II, the valve D, having the passage I, and suitable devices forclosing and opening said passage at,will, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination of the filling-plug F, opening into vent-passage M,in combination with such passage and with the oil-reservoir C,Substantially as set forth.

10. A lubricator in which the oil-chamber and superimposedcondensing-chamber are connected loy three passages, one for thedownward passage of the water and eontrolled by suitable trap, anotherfor the upward passage for the oil, and provided with a suitable nozzle,and the third for the direct communication of steam-pi*essure to theoil-chamber, and to relieve said chamber of pressure originatingtherein, and leading from said chamber, at or near its highest interiorpoint, to the upper steam-filled portion of the condenser, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

11. In a lubricator in which oil is displaced from its reservoir bywater derived from a condenser and is delivered upward in visible dropsthrough water in a transparent chamber separate from but communicatingwith the oilreservoir for the purp ose of eftecting such deliveryunifornfly, notwithstanding any agitation or varying pressure in theoilreservoir, the combination, with such oilreservoir, condenser, andcommunicating passages, of a vent-passage leading from the oilreservoir,at or near its highest interior point, to an opening exposed to thesteam-pressure at a point higher than any liquid column Whi0h exertspressure on the liquid in the oilreservoir, substantially as set forth.

12. An oil-drop-sight-feed lubricator having its condenser superimposedupon the oilreservoir, the two chambers being secured together by atubular vertical stem which passes through them both, and which servesas the steam-induct to the condenser, substantially as set forth.

13. A visible-feed lubricator having a condensing-srface which is higherthan the steaminduct connection, and whose openings for the emission ofoil and the discharge of the surplus water of condensation are on thesame level.

In testi'mony that I claim the foregoing as WASIIINGTON LEROY PARKER.

Witnesses:

CHAS. S. BURTON, LE GRAND BURTON.

